Skagit Audubon Society

Welcome to Skagit Audubon Programs

General membership meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.
In person meetings are typically presented at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, 10441 Bayview-Edison Rd., Mt. Vernon. Other meetings may be available by Zoom only. Please check the specific program listing below for the time and location of the current meeting. Some programs offer “watch parties” - see newsletter for details.

SCAM ALERT! Our monthly programs on Zoom are always FREE! Any prompt during registration on Zoom to collect any financial or payment information is a scam (and out of our control).

MONTHLY PROGRAM

We've all heard amazing facts about bird migration, the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc., but did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.

Rebecca Heisman is an award-winning science writer who lives in Walla Walla, Washington, and has worked with organizations including the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the American Ornithological Society. Flight Paths is her first book.

This month’s meeting will be remote only on Zoom. No in-person attendance. Pre-registration is required and after you register, you will receive an email with a link to sign in at the time the event begins.  To attend the Zoom event, please register at: http://bit.ly/47o14pl  If the registration page does not immediately open, you should be redirected to it within a few seconds. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

·       Please log in 5 minutes prior to meeting time (7:00 pm) so we can begin on time. A brief business meeting is held prior to the meeting.

·       Questions or registration problems? Please email programs@skagitaudubon.org.

2025-2026 UPCOMING PROGRAMS, from Ann Kramer

Join us for a season of interesting and energetic speakers and topics

December 9, 2025  Members’ Photography Show IN-PERSON (HOLIDAY POTLUCK)  Images, stories and sounds from the photographic contributions of our members.

January 13, 2026  Kaeli Swift ZOOM Something to Crow About: Kaeli Swift is an author, researcher and speaker who specializes in Corvids with a focus on Crows and unique features that make them compelling topics of literature and observation.

February 10, 2026 George Armistead ZOOM A Birder's Evolution: Beyond Your Spark Bird What are some of the common features that draw people to birding, how that interest ignites into passion and even obsession, and what birders and communities get back from their birding. Author: Better Birding, Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania

March 10, 2026  Bob Gillespie IN-PERSON Introduction to Beneficial Insects or Introduction to Pollinator Diversity. A talk with displays will cover the diversity of native bees, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths that pollinate native plants and the plants we depend on for a complete diet.

April 14, 2026  Paul Bannick IN-PERSON (at SKAGIT STATION) Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers. The outcome of Paul’s lifelong interest and study of Woodpeckers, their habits, ranges and over 200 never-before-seen images. A bonanza of woodpecker information and images. Author: Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls

May 12, 2026  Kevin Zobrist IN-PERSON Know your Native Trees Learn about the most common native trees around Skagit County. We’ll cover identification as well as growth traits and habitats. Author: Native Trees of Western Washington

June 9, 2026  Peter Cavanaugh IN-PERSON: How Birds Fly (POTLUCK)  Our year-end member program.  From take-off to landing, Peter unveils the complex evolution and physics of bird flight. Author: How Birds Fly

Legacy Program Recordings:

May 2025: “Salmon and the American Dipper” presented by Christopher Tonra, PhD is now available at: https://youtu.be/CSdGwlBeCiY

April 2025: “Birds and Climate Change” presented by Steve Hampton, PhD is now available at: https://youtu.be/ZnYQ5yTBc64

March 2025: “White-headed Woodpecker – 20 Years of Research”, presented by Jeff Kozma, is available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/WIPeKj6KDyU

January 2025: The recording of the Jan. program, “Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest”, presented by Julie Zickefoose is now available for viewing here: https://youtu.be/HEaEKDFxQTc

November 2024 :  If you missed the Nov. 12th presentation “Adaptive Estuary Restoration of the Port Susan Bay Reserve” by Amber Parmenter, Stewardship Manager for The Nature Conservancy, it may be viewed at the following link:  https://youtu.be/rnZmw9oRJ0U Please also see this short fact sheet on the restoration project at the Port Susan Bay Reserve.

https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/port-susan-bay-fact-sheet.pdf

May 2024 Pacific Flyway Shorebird Conservation by River Gates